Greenwich Borough 1-2 Hythe Town - It was a very professional performance, admits Scott Porter

Visibility was poor during the first half, but the fog cleared at the interval and three goals were scored within the first eleven minutes of the second half, as Hythe Town moved one point clear of Herne Bay, as the top two battle it out for the title during their last remaining 10 games.

The visit of Hythe attracted Greenwich Borough’s largest league crowd of the season to Holmedale’s Oakley Road ground, and the away fans went home happy as Nick Barnes’ first goal for the club and a Lee Winfield screamer put them 2-0 up after 53 minutes to stretch their unbeaten run to fourteen games.

Greenwich Borough pulled a goal back when Harry Draper side-footed home his third goal of the season just three minutes later, but they were denied their first draw of the season as Hythe grounded out a crucial three point haul to leapfrog over Herne Bay at the top.

Hythe Town manager Scott Porter, who says he isn’t going to discuss the title race, was satisfied with a job well done in testing conditions.

He said: “It’s definitely not the best place to come on a Tuesday night, it’s foggy, the lights weren’t great and the pitch (hasn’t been looked after) since Saturday, I don’t think.

“We were playing against a very good Greenwich team, who are very mobile, a good footballing side and they don’t give up.  

“It was a professional performance. We grinded it out and got three points and that’s what we came here for.  I don’t care how we got them.”

Greenwich Borough boss, Steve Firkins, felt his side were dozing during the costly spell at the start of the second half.

“Spirited but not good enough at the end of the day,” he said.  “We felt we contained them well for 45 minutes, they didn’t have too much to threaten.

“It was quite an even game, I thought, first half.  Both keepers, I don’t think had too much to do.  There was plenty of ball being put in but I thought we coped with that well.

“It was disappointing after all what we spoke about in the changing room we came out and we just didn’t look ready for it.  Maybe I’m keeping them in too long, I don’t know, perhaps we need to get out a little bit earlier, but we just looked asleep for six minutes and it’s cost us in the end.”

There was very little between the two sides during the first half, as both sides battled against each other in the fog.

Jamie Turner’s ball over the top of Hythe right-back Greg Smith released the lively Nathaniel Bell, but his left-footed centre was too close to visiting keeper Kieron Mann, before Brendon Cass looped a shot into Greenwich Borough keeper, Danny Firkins’ gloves at the other end within a minute.

The first clear-cut chance arrived half-way through the first half, following a Kieran Byrne corner from the right, which was headed away by Greenwich defender Bobby Hanley and Pat Kingwell cut the ball back for central midfielder Barnes to strike a right-footed half-volley, which whistled past the near post.

Firkins was called into action just past the half-hour mark when he parried a low right-footed drive from Cass, after the prolific striker drilled his shot towards goal from the edge of the Greenwich Borough penalty box.

Greenwich Borough then started playing their slick passing game and a move involving Micah Banton, Jason Mabbs and Frankie Warren resulted in leading goalscorer Peter Afolayan being denied by a near post block from Hythe skipper Dave Cook.

Then, Turner’s through ball released Bell, who’s pace got him to the by-line and his cut-back was fired towards goal by Afolayan from an acute angle and the ball was stabbed off the line beside the near post by central defender Cook, who wears the number 7 shirt.

Hythe left-back John Walker pumped a long ball into the penalty box where striker Craig Thompson glanced his header wide, before their goalkeeper Mann kept his eye on the ball to prevent Turner’s tricky right-footed drive from 22-yards bouncing into the net after the Greenwich midfielder cut in from the left.

The 45 supporters wished for a much better spectacle during the second half and the switching off of the orange training lights beside the pitch seemed to have done the trick as by the time that the two teams emerged from their dressing rooms, the fog had lifted.

Hythe almost settled their nerves after just nine seconds when Hanley looped a clearance in the air and Thompson drilled an angled shot just past the foot of the near post.

But Hythe broke the deadlock - much to the delight of their bench - within three minutes, thanks to a little bit of fortune.

Kingwell floated a cross into the penalty area and Greenwich didn’t deal with it and after a couple of episodes of pin-ball, Barnes swept in a low right-footed drive, which went in off the foot of the near post, leaving keeper Firkins stranded.

Porter felt the manager’s son could have done better with the strike.

He said: “Near post, the keeper will probably be disappointed but if you don’t have a shot on goal, you don’t know what you’re going to get.”

Porter was pleased with the high-tempo start to the second half.

“We said at half-time, we’ve got to get the tempo up another 20% and we did that.  We got at them, stopped them playing.  They’re a good footballing side, they liked playing right on the edge of their box so we pressed them and we got our rewards with that.”

Hythe doubled their lead just five minutes later and you will never see a better goal in the Kent League this season.

Ronnie Dolan whipped in an excellent cross from the left channel across the face of the penalty area and Winfield cracked a stunning right-footed half-volley, which screamed across Firkins and rocketed into the roof of the net from 15-yards.

“Winny’s been quality.  It was his 250th appearance, 252nd now, I think, and that was a great goal!  He’s got a lovely right foot and it couldn’t have fallen to anyone better.”

Greenwich Borough could have crumbled following that set-back, but they pulled a goal back within three minutes of that disappointment and then made a game off it.

Turner’s run got him to the left by-line and he slid the ball back for Draper to stab a low shot with the outside of his right boot across Mann from six-yards and the ball nestled inside the bottom far corner of the net.

Porter was obviously disappointed in the manner of conceding their 23rd league goal of the season -  ironically the same number that Herne Bay have conceded in their 20 league games.

“After going 2-0 up you’ve got a bit of a cushion,” he said.  “You’re at the most vulnerable when you score and that proved tonight, but we dug in.

“They put a lot of pressure on us but we had chances at the other end.  We had a lot of chances and we could’ve killed the game off.

Praising Greenwich Borough, Porter added: “They didn’t give up and all credit to them.  He’s got a good bunch of lads’ there.  They work for him and they play decent football.”

Yet another cross from Walker was expertly brought under control by Thompson but the striker swept a shot just past the foot of the near post.

But Greenwich Borough squandered an excellent chance restore parity in the 65th minute when Draper’s pass released Bell storming through on goal but Mann advanced and bravely smothered the shot and he needed treatment for an injury before the resulting corner was taken.

Moments later, Mann did well to prevent Afolayyan scoring his 17th goal of the season when the nippy striker cracked a right-footed drive from 25-yards, which took a wicked bounce off the pitch and looped high above the keeper’s head, but the pink-shirted keeper avoided any embarrassment by making a comfortable catch in the end.

A square pass from Greenwich skipper Jason Mabbs was intercepted by Byrne, who cut in from the left across to the middle before teeing up a chance for Cass, who unleashed a right-footed drive, which only just cleared the crossbar.

Firkins made a smart near post block to prevent Thompson flicking in Winfield’s right-wing cross from close range.

Greenwich Borough rallied late in the game to try and salvage their first league draw of the season but Hythe put in a professional display and the destination of the Kent League title - and who will be staging Ryman League football next August - looks set for an exciting climax.

Reflecting on the first half, Greenwich Borough boss Firkins added: “I think it was two pretty much matched sides with two different styles for a start.

“I felt we coped with their tactics and we felt we could hit them with our pace down the flanks and a couple of times we got around the back of them and maybe should have done better but what’s killed it for us is the six minutes after half-time.”

Firkins admitted Winfield’s strike was excellent.

“Their second goal was fantastic,” he said.  “A great strike, but for me it should’ve been dealt with before the ball’s come across, but he’s got his shot off but what an excellent strike by the fella!  You don’t get many of them do you?!”

Firkins was pleased with the reaction from his side after going two goals down so early on in the second half.

He said: “I think after their second goal went in you could feel they felt they were comfortable then, but we got back in three minutes after and it kept the game alive.  If we hadn’t had scored in that time perhaps we could’ve died out for us and we’ll probably get a little frustrated.”

With 11 wins and 11 draws from their 22 league games, Firkins added: “I think we’re setting some sort of record in the Kent League - we don’t do draws at Greenwich!  We either win them or we lose!”

Firkins added: “We are disappointed and perhaps it’s something we’ve got to learn sometimes.  You have to dig in and do the dirty jobs in football but sometimes, I feel, we are too cavalier, the way we leave ourselves open.

“The two goals we conceded on our part were sloppy, not the actual finishing, but in between the break down of the play.  We should have dealt with it before the fella’s got their strikes off.

“Hythe came here and done a job and I think we’ve given them a good, decent game tonight.  I don’t think Simon (Halsey, the Herne Bay manager) is very happy with me!”

Greenwich Borough: Danny Firkins, Micah Banton (Adam Wadmore 75), Danny Tipple, Jason Mabbs, Billy Walton, Bobby Hanley (Michael Jones 82), Frankie Warren, Harry Draper, Peter Afolayan, Jamie Turner (Kyle Demetrius 68), Nathaniel Bell.

Sub: Thomas Rolt.

Goal: Harry Draper 56

Booked: Harry Draper 52, Micah Banton 71

Hythe Town: Kieron Mann, Greg Smith, John Walker, Pat Kingwell, Nick Barnes, Ronnie Dolan, Dave Cook, Lee Winfield, Craig Thompson (Gary Mickelborough 85), Brendon Cass, Kieran Byrne.

Subs: Sam Conlon, Gavin Ransley, Dan Cook, Ben Humphrey

Goals: Nick Barnes 48, Lee Winfield 53

Booked: Greg Smith 18, Nick Barnes 52, Ronnie Dolan 57

Attendance: 45

Referee: Mr Aji Ajibola (Erith)

Assistants: Mr Andrew Butler (Maidstone) & Mr Steve Perry (Bexleyheath)